Sizzling Summer Solstice

In the Northern Hemisphere, summer begins on June 20, 2012.

This first day of summer is called Summer Solstice.

Sol + stice comes from a combination of Latin words meaning "sun" + "to stand still." As the days lengthen, the sun rises higher and higher until it seems to stand still in the sky.

As a major celestial event, the Summer Solstice results in 

the longest day and the shortest night of the year. The Northern Hemisphere celebrates in June, but the people on the Southern half of the earth have their 

longest summer day in December!

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What are your favorite activities during summer?

Do you have any special summer plans?

Leave a comment, and let's stay in touch!

Glorious Goodbye!

 It has been a thrilling year in third grade 

in Mrs. Ranney's Class!

We've made many marvelous memories together!

Please enjoy our slideshow of our last days as third graders!

Good Times On Our Last Days Together! on PhotoPeach

On our last Friday together, we enjoyed participating

in the annual 

Concert on the Green!

The third grade song was the Beatles'

"Hello, Goodbye!"

It was a fitting song for the end of the school year!

We're all excited to say hello to summer, but a little 

sad to say goodbye to our third grade year together!



You Say Goodbye, and I Say Hello! from yourwonderfulteacher on Vimeo.

What did you enjoy most about third grade?

What important lessons did you learn this year? 

Enterprising Economy!

This week we are studying about economy, the way a country runs its industry, trade, and finance!

We have learned that in the United States producers may make or do almost anything they can think of, as long as the law allows it.

Consumers may buy what they want and can afford.

This system is called free enterprise.

To practice these and other important words about economy, visit this link to play the Eword game!



Another wonderful way to study is to take the quiz below!



Everyday Economy! on PhotoPeach

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What have you learned about economy?

What new information can you share?

(Tech. Tuesday Homework: Be sure to use at least 2 words from our list besides producer and consumer. Bold the special words you use! Write at least 3 sentences!)

Wonderful, Wild, and Amazing Animals, 2012! Part 2: A Bird of Prey and a Marsupial!

Beverly  from Wildlife Experience 

 visited our class again

with animals that are native to North America!

 They are a non-profit wildlife education organization that brings native and exotic animals to schools and teaches children about the importance of our natural world.

Today we were visited by a seven-year-old Harris' hawk, a bird of prey.

One very special behavioral adaptation of a carnivorous Harris' hawk is that it, unlike other hawks, hunts with a group of hawks. This is called communal hunting. Together, they fly over a sagebrush, scare out a rabbit, and surround it, so it can't escape!

Do you see an important physical adaptation for this predator?

Harris' hawks live in the desert. Here is a photo of one with its young. 
You can see it is using a cactus as a nesting ground!

 The Harris' hawk that built this nest used twigs, animal hair (including horse hair), 
paper bags, newspapers, and even dryer sheets!

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Our second guest was the only marsupial that lives in North America,
an opossum!
Opossums are nocturnal, so she had to wake our furry friend up for the visit!











 Since this omnivore had eaten some meat in the last class it visited,
Ms. C. gave it a banana in our class!

 

Check out this amazing physical adaptation, a prehensile tail!

Because opossums are marsupials, their babies, called joeys, stay in the mother's
 pouch until they are big enough....

to ride on Mom's back!

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What other facts can you share about these creatures?

Do you remember how many razor sharp teeth
 an opossum has?

Can you explain the behavioral adaptation of the opossum that helps it stay safe from predators?

Do you remember a fact about the white tips on the tail of the
Harris' hawk?

Mathletics Marvels - Exciting Update!

Our school is using Mathletics on a free trial basis until June 12th, 

the last day of school.

It is a great site for practicing the 3rd grade standards and for competing against

 students all over the world!

We were so excited that our class recently achieved 

a place in the Top 50 Classes

 in the U. S. A.

This morning we were even more excited and astonished that we made it to
30th place out of 50!

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Have you been using Mathletics?

What have you worked on?

What certificates have you received?